Collin College Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
Collin College serves Collin County and the Dallas–Fort Worth metro with NLN-recognized nursing education: an ACEN-accredited ADN and LVN-to-RN bridge at McKinney, Vocational Nursing at Wylie, Celina, and Allen, plus an ACEN-accredited online RN-to-BSN. This guide summarizes official admissions and tuition disclosures and points you to Texas Board of Nursing tools for NCLEX results.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Collin pairs a McKinney-based ADN and LVN-to-RN bridge (clinicals across the Dallas area) with Vocational Nursing distributed across Wylie, Celina, and Allen—all under nursing pathways designated as an NLN Center of Excellence through 2028 on the college’s nursing hub. Add the fully online ACEN-accredited RN-to-BSN, and you have a full ladder from LVN to BSN while keeping public-college tuition comparatively low per the published 2025–26 schedule.
Overview & Why Students Choose Collin College
North of Dallas, Collin College anchors higher education for one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas. Its Nursing Division stacks entry-level LVN education with an ACEN-accredited ADN (including an LVN-to-RN bridge) and an ACEN-accredited, fully online RN-to-BSN—useful if you want to climb the credential ladder without leaving the region.
Programming is practice-forward: ADN students spend multiple weekdays on the McKinney campus with clinical placements at partner facilities around Dallas, while Vocational Nursing spreads cohorts across Wylie, Celina, and the Allen Technical Campus to keep practical nursing training closer to where students live.
Texas publishes nursing program outcomes through the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard and related school search tools. Use those resources for the latest first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for Collin County Community College District programs. Confirm cohort-specific figures with TBON and Collin’s Nursing Division (972-548-6772).
Reasons students choose Collin College
Credential ladder in one district
Progress from LVN to ADN/RN through the LVN-to-RN bridge, then complete a BS in Nursing online—each step aligns with the college’s public mission and comparatively low published tuition rates.
NLN Center of Excellence
The nursing unit promotes continuous quality improvements across programs; Collin highlights National League for Nursing Center of Excellence designation (2011–2028) on its public nursing pages.
ACEN oversight for ADN & RN-to-BSN
The Associate Degree Nursing program holds continuing ACEN accreditation; RN-to-BSN lists ACEN initial accreditation on Collin’s program page—strong external quality signals for transfer and employers.
DFW clinical access
ADN clinical rotations occur in and around Dallas, exposing students to major health systems hiring new graduate nurses across the metroplex.
Transparent entrance testing
ADN applicants know the TEAS composite and section minimums up front, which helps you plan retakes and transcript completion before the published application deadlines.
Nursing Programs Offered
Collin College confirms four nursing pathways on its public nursing website: Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), Vocational Nursing (LVN), an LVN-to-RN Bridge, and RN-to-BSN. The summaries below track that structure—pre-licensure first, then post-licensure completion.
Pre-licensure & bridge pathways
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
The ADN awards an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at the McKinney campus over four semesters (spring and fall cohorts). Coursework blends classroom, simulation, and clinical experiences; graduates qualify for NCLEX-RN. The curriculum totals 60 credit hours per the program overview.
Vocational Nursing
Vocational Nursing prepares students for NCLEX-PN. Collin runs the program on the Wylie, Celina, and Allen Technical campuses, accepting up to 84 students per year across sites according to college news. A one-year, full-time design is emphasized on the LVN landing page.
LVN-to-RN Bridge Program
Licensed vocational nurses advance through a three-semester bridge that culminates in the same ADN credential and NCLEX-RN eligibility as the traditional track. Details live on Collin’s dedicated LVN-to-RN page.
Post-licensure (RN to BSN)
RN-to-BSN
The RN-to-BSN completion program is designed for currently licensed RNs. Collin describes the curriculum as fully online and notes ACEN initial accreditation for the McKinney-based program on its RN-to-BSN page. Prerequisites, residency, and progression rules should be confirmed directly with nursing admissions.
Collin College warns that individual clinical agencies set immunization, background, and safety standards. If you cannot meet a partner hospital’s requirements, you may be unable to complete clinical rotations—verify each mandate before accepting a seat.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
NCLEX-RN (ADN & LVN-to-RN)
Texas does not scatter RN pass rates only on individual college sites—the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard, formal program lists, and the Board’s school search spreadsheet are the authoritative places to compare Collin County Community College District against other programs. Search for the institution’s legal name as registered with TBON when reviewing exports.
This guide does not quote a first-time NCLEX-RN percentage because cohort numbers change annually and should be read directly from those Board tools at the time you apply.
NCLEX-PN (Vocational Nursing)
According to Collin College’s February 28, 2023 news article, vocational nursing graduates achieved a reported 100% pass rate on NCLEX-PN for the Texas Board of Nursing, and the piece cites the 2022 NCLEX-PN report statewide context. Treat this as a dated, school-communicated highlight—not a guarantee of future cohort results. Confirm current NCLEX-PN statistics with TBON and the Vocational Nursing program.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate | Look up the current rate for Collin County Community College District ADN/LVN-to-RN programs via the Texas BON Education Dashboard and linked school search tools. |
| NCLEX-PN (reported) | Collin College news (Feb 28, 2023) reported a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate and cited the 2022 TBON NCLEX-PN report. Confirm the newest cohort with TBON. |
| Source | Texas Board of Nursing — Formal Education Programs · Collin College news release (NCLEX-PN) |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Texas Board of Nursing and the school.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international students and internationally educated nurses vary by institution and state. Use the points below as a checklist; verify everything with Collin College and the Texas Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, or other requirements and minimum scores for this school.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: WES, CGFNS, or other evaluators required by the school.
- Texas Board of Nursing: For RN licensure (with or without a U.S. degree), confirm NCLEX eligibility and document requirements with the Board.
- Immigration & visa: Program eligibility for F-1 or other visa types and impact on clinical placements.
Policies change frequently. Verify with Collin College’s international office and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Admission to Collin’s pre-licensure tracks is selective: you must first apply to the college, meet documented prerequisite standards, and submit nursing-specific materials (including TEAS scores for ADN/LVN-to-RN per the ADN page). Seat counts expanded historically—with Board approval to grow ADN enrollment—but cohorts remain competitive, so treat each deadline as firm.
Application timeline (ADN / LVN-to-RN as published)
| Entry Term | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 ADN & LVN-to-RN | June 5, 2026 | Application becomes available by April 10, 2026, per the Associate Degree Nursing page (verify for updates). |
| Other programs (LVN, RN-to-BSN) | Varies | Use the Vocational Nursing and RN-to-BSN pages for cohort-specific deadlines, information sessions, and document uploads. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| TEAS (ADN & LVN-to-RN) | Required; composite ≥65%, Reading ≥50%, Science ≥50%; scores must reach Collin by the application deadline; valid within one year of deadline; maximum two attempts between application cycles (per ADN page). |
| Prerequisite courses (ADN) | BIOL 2401, 2402, and 2420 must be complete with a grade of C or better before applying—no in-progress work accepted at deadline. |
| Ranking / waitlist | ADN uses a point system per the published criteria sheet; top 10–15% of qualified alternates may receive waitlist consideration with a guaranteed seat in the following cycle if not admitted (detail on collin.edu ADN page). |
| Transfer / prior nursing coursework | As stated on the ADN page, the program currently cannot accept applicants unsuccessful in other nursing programs; transfers in good standing start at the first level if admitted. |
Honest tips
Finish anatomy, physiology, and microbiology early so you are not racing the application window. Schedule TEAS early enough for a second attempt if needed, and send scores to Collin through ATI before the deadline. If you have prior nursing dismissals, confirm your eligibility with Collin admissions before investing in prerequisites.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Collin College publishes per-credit tuition and mandatory fees for each academic year. Nursing students also pay health-science-specific charges (for example liability insurance, immunization record management, and clinical extras) listed in the college’s fee schedules.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate tuition + student activity fee (2025–26) | In-county (Collin County): $65 tuition + $2 activity fee = $67 per credit hour. Texas resident outside Collin County: $125 + $2 = $127. Out-of-state / international: $200 + $2 = $202. (Some repeats/special courses may add statutory charges—see schedule PDF.) |
| Vocational Nursing estimated totals | Collin’s LVN page lists approximately $7,300 total for in-county residents and $9,900 for out-of-county residents, inclusive of tuition, fees, uniforms, ATI materials, drug testing, skills kits, and board/exam fees—explicitly marked approximate. |
| ADN incremental costs | The ADN page lists uniforms, ATI resources, CPR, background checks, immunizations, laptop/assessment software, and insurance among expected expenses—budget beyond base tuition. |
| Source | Tuition & Fees · 2025–26 Tuition Schedule (PDF) · Vocational Nursing cost estimates |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Pair licensure exam outcomes (tracked through TBON) with regional job market strength: the Dallas–Fort Worth metro remains one of the highest-demand regions for new graduate nurses, though individual hiring depends on performance, timing, and facility needs.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN | Refer to Texas Board of Nursing dashboards for cohort-specific, first-time pass rates. |
| NCLEX-PN (reported highlight) | Collin College news (Feb 28, 2023) reported a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate referencing 2022 TBON data context; confirm newer cohorts with TBON. |
| Job placement / salary | Not publicly disclosed in the sources used for this guide. LVN pages cite JobsEQ/O*Net earning snapshots for Collin County with methodology notes—confirm with Career Services for graduate employment statistics. |
Is Collin College the Right Fit for You?
Collin’s model fits learners who want public-college pricing, multi-campus LVN access, and an online RN-to-BSN—but it is less ideal if you need night/weekend ADN courses (the ADN page states weekday scheduling) or if prior nursing dismissals make you ineligible under current policy.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Can attend McKinney ADN classes and weekday clinicals across Dallas-area facilities
- Want LVN training closer to Wylie, Celina, or Allen
- Plan to ladder LVN → ADN → BSN inside one community college ecosystem
- Value ACEN-accredited ADN/RN-BSN oversight alongside TBON approval
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need evening-only or weekend-only ADN formats (not offered per ADN schedule statement)
- Were dismissed or unsuccessful in another nursing program and cannot secure readmission eligibility
- Expect a BSN without first completing RN licensure (pre-licensure BSN is not listed among Collin pathways)
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
McKinney sits along the U.S. 75 corridor between Dallas’ northern suburbs. Collin nursing students rotate through agencies across the Dallas area, not only within Collin County—so you should expect traffic, parking logistics, and varied acuity mixes similar to other large-metro programs.
| Setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Hospital systems (examples) | DFW hosts major not-for-profit and for-profit systems (e.g., Baylor Scott & White Health, Texas Health Resources, HCA North Texas) that routinely hire ADN-prepared nurses while many magnet facilities prefer or require BSN—Collin’s RN-to-BSN helps close that gap. |
| Community & ambulatory care | Growing suburbs increase demand for clinics, post-acute, and home-based care where LVNs and newer RNs often start. |
| Clinical assignment note | Collin does not publish a static list of every rotation site; accepted students receive placement details from the Nursing Division. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
ADN students use the McKinney campus health sciences footprint—including simulation-equipped labs described in college materials—and should plan on bringing a laptop compatible with secure testing software (iPads are excluded for exams per ADN acceptance checklist). Beyond skills labs, Collin emphasizes advising through the Nursing Division office (972-548-6772) and dedicated emails for pre-licensure versus RN-to-BSN questions.
Student life in Collin County blends suburban neighborhoods, rapid population growth, and easy drives into Dallas for culture and clinical variety. Campus-level activities exist, but nursing schedules are intensive—expect limited bandwidth during semesters.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Primary nursing hub
- McKinney Campus — ADN, LVN-to-RN bridge, RN-to-BSN administration
- Address
- 2200 West University Drive, McKinney, TX 75070, US
- Nursing Division phone
- 972-548-6772 (per collin.edu/nursing)
- ADN / RN-to-BSN email
- Nursingadmissions@collin.edu
- Vocational Nursing contacts
- Director Kim Forcum (KForcum@collin.edu) — see LVN page for advising details
- Website
- collin.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Visit the official Collin College nursing website and download the current program brochure or student handbook if available.
- Review the prerequisite course list in the school catalog and compare it to your transcripts.
- If you are applying to ADN or LVN-to-RN, register for the TEAS through ATI, send scores to Collin, and plan up to two attempts between deadlines.
- Draft a list of questions for an admissions counselor or the nursing program advising office.
- Reach out to current nursing students or alumni (e.g. via LinkedIn) to ask about clinical experiences and satisfaction.
- For RN-to-BSN, collect transcripts, RN license verification, and any prerequisite documentation the completion section requires.
- Check the application deadline for your target term and set reminders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Collin College a good school for nursing?
Collin offers TBON-approved vocational and professional nursing programs, ACEN-accredited ADN and RN-to-BSN options, and NLN Center of Excellence recognition cited through 2028. Whether it is the right fit depends on your campus preference, schedule flexibility, and career ladder goals—verify outcomes on the Texas Board of Nursing dashboards and speak with advisors.
What are Collin College ADN admission requirements?
Applicants must complete BIOL 2401, 2402, and 2420 with a C or better before the deadline, achieve TEAS minimums (65% composite; Reading & Science ≥50%), submit transcripts, and complete the online nursing application packet. The next listed cycle is Spring 2027 with a June 5, 2026 deadline—confirm live updates on the ADN page.
Does Collin College require the TEAS exam?
Yes for ADN and LVN-to-RN applicants—no exemptions are listed on the Associate Degree Nursing page. Register through ATI and ensure Collin receives official scores on time; you may test at the McKinney Testing Center or through ATI’s remote proctoring options.
Where does Collin College hold nursing classes?
ADN and the LVN-to-RN bridge run at the McKinney campus. Vocational Nursing classes take place on the Wylie, Celina, and Allen Technical campuses. RN-to-BSN coursework is delivered online per the RN-to-BSN page.
What is the NCLEX-RN pass rate for Collin College?
Use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard and school search exports for cohort-specific, first-time NCLEX-RN results attributed to Collin County Community College District. This guide intentionally links to those official tools instead of citing a static percentage that may age out.
Has Collin College published NCLEX-PN results?
A February 28, 2023 campus news article reported a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate and referenced the 2022 NCLEX-PN report context at the state level. Confirm the newest vocational nursing outcomes with TBON before relying on any headline number.
How much does Collin College nursing cost?
Undergraduate tuition for 2025–26 is posted as $67 per credit hour for Collin County residents ($65 tuition + $2 activity fee), $127 for other Texas residents, and $202 for out-of-state learners. Vocational Nursing also lists approximate total program costs ($7,300 / $9,900). Build extra funds for uniforms, ATI, clinical compliance, and testing fees.
Can I go from LVN to BSN at Collin College?
Yes in stages: complete the LVN program, bridge into the ADN through the three-semester LVN-to-RN program, pass NCLEX-RN, then enter the online RN-to-BSN. Each step has separate admissions and progression requirements.
Does Collin accept students who failed out of another nursing program?
The ADN page currently states the program cannot accept applicants who were unsuccessful in other nursing programs. If you have a unique transfer situation, contact Nursingadmissions@collin.edu before applying.
References
- Collin College — Nursing hubcollin.edu/nursing
- Collin College — Associate Degree NursingADN program page
- Collin College — Tuition & Fees (2025–26 table + PDF)Tuition & Fees
- Collin College — Vocational NursingLVN program page
- Collin College — NCLEX-PN news (Feb 28, 2023)News release
- Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboardbon.texas.gov/education_school_resultsDashboard
- Texas Board of Nursing — formal education programs listbon.texas.gov/education_programs
- ACEN — Collin County CC District program directory entryACEN program page
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for accuracy, clarity, and alignment with publicly available institutional and board data.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Published: April 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: April 1, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy